Shoe sewing machine



Aug. l, 1944. F. AsHwoRTH ErAL 2,354,729

` sHoEsEwING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2A, 1942 5 sheetsl-sheet 1 FIL .1

J70 I nuerbons' l, 1944. l AsHwoRTH Erm.'

SHOE SEWING MACHINE 5 Sheets`Sheet 2 WWW MMV. v

Aug.,1,1944. F. A'SHWORTH mL 2,354,729v

SHOE SEWING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1942 5 Sheng-sheet s FLW Aug- 1, 1944-F. AsHwoRTH ET Al. 2,354,729

SHOE SEWING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fw L @ai 0 jgInventors Patented Aug. l, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE SEWINGMACHINE Fred Ashworth, Wenham, and Carl F. Whitaker,

Beverly, Mass., assignors to United Shoe Machinery Corporation,Flemington, N. J'., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 2,1942, Serial No. 429,206

14 claims. (01.112-61) The present invention relates to improvements inshoe sewing machines and is herein illustrated as embodied in a highspeed lockstitch sewing machine of the hooked needle type, Vas disclosed,in the present inventors U. S. Letters Patent No.

2,271,611 of February 3, 1942., and constructed and arranged to sew theoutsole and welted upp'er of a Goodyear welt shoe.

, In the machine of the patent, the work is fed past the stitch formingdevices by the operation *of the work support and presser foot, whichact to clamp the work and to move with the work the length -of'a stitch.Thereafter, the clamping pressure on the work is relieved and thepresser foot and Work support are back fed preparatory to clamping thework at a new location, the distance of a stitch length from theprevious one.

-In this machine, as in all outsole shoe stitching machines providedwith a clamp feed, difculty has been experienced in securing an accurateand uniform feeding of the work so as to produce a seam having thestitches accurately placed in the work and uniformly spaced. In machinesof this type, especially when the machines are operated at high speeds,there is a tendency for the various parts of the presser foot actuatingmechanism to vibrate and become more or less displacedas a result oflost motion or lack of rigidity in the connectionsand this tendencybecomes more marked as the connections become worn during use. l

One of the most practical and successful presser foot actuatingmechanisms which has been used heretofore in this type of machinecomprises a single fioating cam actuated lever, which lever .throughsuitable connections is connected at one vpoint to the cam, at anotherpoint to the presser foo-t carrier and at still another point to alocking mechanism, which locking mechanism is actuated during eachstitch forming cycle to lock the fulcrum of the floating'lever frommovement during the action of the cam on the llever to force the presserfoot against the work and to lift the foot from the work, and which isalso actuated to release the fulcrum of the floating. lever to permitthe lever to be moved about its cam connected endto force the presserfoot yield-- ingly against the work. This type of presser foot actuatingmechanism has-also been successfully used in outsole stitching machineswhich are not provided with clamp feeding mechanism in which the work isfed by an awl or needle. In both types of machines, however, thisconstructioniofpresser foot actuating mechanism has not proved entionshave become worn with useor when the machines are operated at highspeed. A reason for the failure of these presser Vfoot actuatingmechanisms to operate satisfactorily isthat the connections to thesingle oating lever are of such a nature and are so* arranged-as tocause themotion imparted to certain of the parts to bemultiplied as thismotion is imparted to another part and also to cause greater pressuresto be exerted upon some of the connections than upon others both whilethe fulcrum of the floating lever is locked against movement and whileit is unlocked. By reason of this inequality in the extent of themotions imparted to the various parts vand in the pressures exerted uponthe connections, Vthe vibratoryeffects produced` upon the parts'andconnections from any cause are'increased in intensity and as they becomeexcessive, cause the work to be yimproperly clamped in awl andfneedlefeed machines and `to be improperly clamped and fed in clamp feedmachines.

The particular objects of the present invention are to provide aconstruction for alligh speed lockstitch outsole shoe sewing machineinwhichv accurate and equal feeding movements will be imparted to the workduring sewing and in which the di-fliculties referred to will beavoided. In general, the objects are to simplify and .improve theactuating mechanismsof an outsole With these and. other objects in View,afeature of the present invention contemplates the pro- Ivision,-in ahigh speed outsole shoe stitching machine, of a mechanismfor actuatingthe work clampingl presser foot having its various parts constructed-andarranged in an improved manner so as to occupy a minimum amount vofspace.

in the machine Without interference with4 the desirable location andarrangement of theother stitch formingand workvhan'dling devicesof themachine and also., having its various parts .conf

structedand arranged to distribute thepressures on the variousconnections 'and pivotal bearings to the best advantage'so as to ylessenwear on the bearings and connections and avoid looseness with consequentvibration in the parts. lThis improved tirely satisfactory, especiallyafter the connecpresser foot actuating mechanism 4isvof that type thepresser foot and substantially in the right;` line passing through thework engaging face of' the presser foot and the pivot of the presser,`2,'

foot lever. By pivotally mounting the presser are connected to thefulcrum supporting lever and thereby the advantages are secured that thepresser foot is not lifted by the cam against the tension of the springduring each stitch forming cycle and the connections from the threadmeasuring mechanism to the presser foot remain at rest until a changeoccurs in the thickness of the work, thereby eliminating the Wear onthese connections when vibrated during each stitch forming cycle, as inprior constructions.

` `In accordance with another feature of the presser foot mechanismhereinafter described, the point of connection of the cam actuated endof the floating lever is arranged to be substantially foot lever midwayits length and connecting its rear end to the floating lever inthemanner stated, a simple compact construction is provided, enabling apresser foot spring to be connected to the floating lever between thepoints of its connection with the actuating cam and-the presser foot,which arrangement does not interfere with the desired location of otherparts'of the machine and prevents any excessive pressure from beingexertedon the pivotal bearing of the presser foot lever duringoperation-of the machine. In order'to still further economize in theamount of space occupied by the connections between the cam and thepresser foot, the presser foot lever is mounted'in the machine so as tohave a substantially horizontal rearward.- ly extending arm and thefloating lever which is directly connected by al link to the rear end ofthe presser foot lever is located above the rearwardly extending arm ofthe presser foot lever.V In accordance with another feature of theirnproved presser foot .I actuating mechanism, the fulcrum of the lever,instead'of being mounted directly on a' sliding support, as in priorconstructions, is fulcrumed intermediateits ends on a supporting leverand the vlocking device for locking the fulcrumfrom movement and forreleasing the fulcrurn, is connected to the supporting Ylever atthevopposite side of the fulcrum from the pivot of the lever. By thisconstruction, the pressure on the-locking devices'is reduced, and byproperly proportioning the arms of the floating and fulcrum supportinglevers, the pressures at the ends of the floating lever and on thelocking devices can be equalized. In the embodiment of the inventionhereinafter specicallydei scribed, the floating lever andthe fulcrumsupporting lever are of the same length, 'and the floating lever 'isfulcrumed-midwayvbetween the pivot of the supporting lever and its-pointof connection to the locking devicesl The movements of both ends of ,thefloating lever, While the fulcrum is locked against movement, are thusequal and any movement of the fulcrum support While unlocked impartsequal movementsto the end of the floating lever connected to the presserfoot lever and to the end of the fulcrum support connected to thelocking devices. The position of the fulcrurn of the floating lever isshifted, as in prior constructions, upon a change in the thickness ofthe work, and by reason of the construction above described, sufficientmovement is im'- rparted to the fulcrum support to permit the springwhich forces the presser foot against the work While the fulcrum supportis unlocked to act advantageously when connectedto the fulcrumsupport.Bythis constructionalso, sufficient movement is imparted to thefulcrumsupport so that it can be advantageously connected to the threadmeasuring or pull-off. mechanism., In the construction hereinafterdescribed, both the actuating spring and the thread measuring mechanismconcentric with the fixed pivot of the fulcrum vsupporting lever whilethe presser foot is in a position of nearest possible approach to thework support, a stop being provided to limit the approach of the presserfoot in this direction. In connection with this construction, means areprovided for an adjustment of the fulcrurn of the oating lever withrelation to the supporting lever and thereby an adjustment of theposition of nearest possible approach to the work support of the presserfoot may be made without modifying the operation of the cam and of thespring when actuating the presser foot.

Other features of the invention consist in novel and improved devices,combinations and arrangements of parts Vhereinafter described andclaimed, the advantages of which will be readily understood by oneskilled in the art from the following description taken inconnection-'with the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodimentof the invention.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a part of anoutsole shoe sewing machine embodying the features of the presentinvention; Fig. 2 is a detail side view, partly in secition, of thepresser foot actuating mechanism and a portion of the Work support withno work in the machine; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan View taken along theline 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional plan as viewed along the line4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view of the presser footlock device in front elevation; Fig. 6 is adetail View in frontelevation of a portion of the presser foot actuating mechanism; Fig. 'lis a detail view, partly in section, of the work support carrier, itsmounting shaft and feed actuating mechanism; Fig. 8 is a diagrammaticplan view on an enlarged scale illustrating the manner of obtaining therearward pull on the work during work feed; Fig. 9 is a view in detailelevation, partly in section, of the work support and carrier; Fig. 10is a side view on an enlarged scale of the upper part of the worksupport and a shoe guided thereby, shown in section; Fig. 11 is a Viewin side elevation of a portion of the Work support and presserfoottogether with a novel form of back gage; Fig. 12 is a plan view of thework support and back gage; Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the sewingthread lock and pull-off actuating members; Fig. 14 is a sectional viewof the` same parts, taken along the line I4-I4 of Fig. 1, together withthe thread locks illustrating the manner of operation; Fig. 15 is a planview of the looper actuating mechanism; Fig. 16 is a. side View, partlybroken away and in section, of the same parts; and Fig. 17 is a frontview, ypartly broken away and in section, of the looper actuatingmechanism.

The machine illustrated in the drawings is of the type disclosed inprior U. S. Letters Patent O f Ashworth No. 1,169,909 of February 1,1916,

No. 1,824,063 of September 22, 1931, and No. '2,015,654 of October l,1935, as well as in the Patent No. 2,271,611, above referred to. Themachine is equipped with a curved hook needle 2,

'a needle guide 4 (see Fig. 11), a curved awl 6, la thread case 8mounted within a shuttle or loop taker, needle threading mechanismincluding a looper I and a thread finger I2, a work support I4, apresser foot I6, back gage I8 and other stitch forming devices similarto those of the above patents, except as hereinafter pointed out. Adriving and stopping mechanism also is provided for bringing the sewingshaft of the machine, indicated at I9, to rest with the work free to beremoved. The general arrangement of the machine is as usual, with thesewing shaft located behind and above the point of operation of thestitch forming devices and substantially parallel to the line of theseam formed thereby.

The work is fedl in the illustrated machine, as in the machine ofPatents Nos. 1,824,063 and 2,271,611, by the movement of the worksupport and presser foot while clamping the work. During clampingengagement of the presser foot with the work, a measured amount ofneedle thread correspondingto the position of the presser foot is pulledoff from the supply, the thread after measurement being lockedy againstfurther movement towards or away from the supply until each stitch isset in the work.

As has been'stated, the illustrated machine is provided with an improvedpresser foot actuating mechanism of the type comprising a floating lever'in the connections between the presser foot and its actuating cam. Asbest'shown in Fig. 2, the

presser foot I is secured to the forward end of a substantiallyhorizontal presser foot "lever 24 pivotally mounted at 26 on the feedcarriage to which is also secured the cooperating work support,` ashereinafter described. The floating lever is'indicated at 22, and inorder to leave the space beneath the horizontally extending rear arm'ofthe presser foot lever free to be occupied by other parts of theoperating mechanism of the machine, is located above the presser footlever; The lfnl.- crum of the floating leveris located intermediate theends of the lever and vone end of the floating lever is connecteddirectly to the rear end ofthe presser foot lever by a link 28 while theother end of the floating lever is connectedfto a cam actuated lever byan offset fork-ended link 52. The presser foot lever 24 is pivotallymounted midway its ends, and the point of connection between the rearend of the lever and the link 28 is such that the lever 24 is theequivalentof a straight lever with equal arms. Moreover, said point ofconnection is sufficiently" close to the right line 'passing through thework-engaging face of the presser foot and the pivot 26 that the levercan be actuated to clamp the work firmly without subjecting the pivotbearing to excessive pressure.

Ther supportingV4 lever for the fulcrum ofthe floating lever isindicated at 2t. This support, in the illustrated machine, isa frameresembling somewhat the letter H, -and is pivotally mounted AuponA apair of fixed pins `32 extending towards each other through bosses 'in'angular bracket arms one of which is attached tota cover plate 34 for abox 36 ,of thelocking mechanism hereinafter described, and the: other4of which is connected to the machine frame. The lever 20 is arrangedhorizontally, and the pivot pins'32 engage the ends of the arms whichextend forwardly from the cross bar of the H and which are separatedsufficiently to permit the passage between them of one end of thefloating lever 22. The `floating lever 22 is also arranged in asubstantially horizontal position and is pivotally mounted between thearms of the lever 20 which extend rearwardly from the cross bar of theH, the fulcrum of the 'lever 22 .consisting of a pin 3U, the ends ofwhich are supported by thearms ofthe lever 20.

The locking devices for locking the fulcrum of the floating lever frommovement during each stitch forming cycle and for releasing the fulcrumare connected to the fulcrum supporting lever 20 at the opposite side ofthe fulcrum' of the floating lever from the fixed pivot pins. 32, uponwhich the supporting lever is mounted.v As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3,one of the arms of the lever 2t, extending rearwardly from the cross barof the H, is of such length that a connection from the locking devicesto the arm can be made at a point which is thek same distance from thefulcrum of the oating lever as are the pivot pins 32. The link whichconnects the locking 'devices to thefulcrum supporting lever -20 isindicated at 56 and it will be noted, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, thatthis link is located at one side, inthe direcL tion of the seam line,`of the link 28 connecting` the floating lever 22 with the presser footlever and that the arms of the levers 20 and 22 are also located side byside in the direction ofthe seam line. This arrangement of levers andconn.ec'. tions provides a compact construction which leaves the spacedirectly 'to the rear of the sewing point available for other operatingconnectionsin the machine and which, on account of the short length ofeach lever arm, has substantial rigidity.

The manner in which theillustrated construction acts to distribute thepressures on the various connections and' pivot bearings willbe apparentfrom an inspection of lFig. Movement-simparted vto the floating lever`about its'fulcrum while the fulcrum is stationary move the ends of thelever equal distances andconsequently the pressures on the connectionsat each end of the .lever are the same. Also, the pressure'onthe fulcrumof the lever is twice the pressure at the ends of the lever. Due to thefact that the fulcrum of the iloating lever 22 is midway the length ofthe supporting lever 2D, the pressure on the locking devices connectedto the rear end of the lever is one-half that on the fulcrum of the oat;ing lever or the Ysame as the pressure at each end of the floatinglever. Also, any `movement of the fulcrum of the floatinglever,'while.the fulcrum supporting leveris unlocked, results in amovement of the connection to the locking devices twice that of thefulcrum. i

In the illustrated construction, the spring which forces the presserfoot against the-'work while the fulcrum supporting lever 20 isunlocked?, is connected to act on the supportingle'ver between thepoints of a camand presser foot conY nection at the same point as thelocking devices. as hereinafter described, so that the presser foot isnot lifted against the force of the spring. In forcing the presser foottowards the work support, the spring swings -the fulcrum supportinglever 20 about its xed pins 32 and during this movement the fulcrum,acting on the' middle point of the iioating lever 22; swings thisfleveraboutitspivotal connection with the link 52. As the lever 22 is thusswung, its rear end,'which is connected by the link 28 to the presserfootv lever,

travels twice the distancer of the fulcrum, or a'dis-l tance equal tothat. traveled by the lockconnected end of4 thefulcrum supporting lever20.

The extent of movement and leverage provided by these connectionsresults in an efficient and reliableadjustment of the presser foot tothe thickness of the'work in the machine.

In presser foot mechanisms of the type comprising a floating lever inthev connections between the actuating cam and the presser foot. thefulcrum remains stationary during the cam actuated movements ofthepresser foot and changes its position only upon an increase or decreasein the thickness of the work. In the illustrated construction, thischange in the position of the fulcrum of the floating lever is utilizedto 'control the action ofthe thread measuring mechanism by which threadis pulled from the supply for each stitch, and to this end a connectionhereinafter described is made from the thread measuring mechanism to thelock connecting end of theI fulcrum supporting lever 26. As has beenexplained, this end of the leverv 29 remains stationary except `as achange occurs in the thickness of the work but has a range of movementtwice thatf of the fulcrum whenever the fulcrum is moved. Accurate andreliable control'of the thread vmeasuring is secured by thisconstruction and arrangement, and constant vibration of the 'controllingconnections during sewing is avoided.

The cam lever for actuating the presser foot is similar to that of the'machine in Patent No, 2,271,611 above identified and-comprises a part38 having a cam roll 40 and a part 42 having an arcuate slot44. `The twoparts of the cam lever are fulcrumed loosely on a shaft 46 and joinedtogether through a one-way yielding connection including an adjustablespring-pressed set screw V48 in the'part 42. Adjustably clamped withinthe slot 44 on the lever part 42 is a releasable stud 50 forming a pivotfor the upper end of the offset fork-'ended link 52', bestshown in Fig.6, embracing the slotted portion of the cam lever at Vits upper end andsurrounding an arm of the floating lever 22 at its'lower end. The lowerend of the link 52 is pivotally connected to the floating lever 22 by apin 54 secured within the lever f 22. Adjustment of the stud 50 alongthe slot 44 changes the work clampingand releasing action of the presserfoot. '4 y v The 'presser foot lock of the present machine is similar tothat disclosed in Patent No'. 2,271,511

but is mounted with its lengthwise dimension vin a substantiallyvertical position, as compared with an approximately horizontal positionof the lock of said patent and with an angular position of the lock inthev patent to Gouldbournet al. No.

2,054,078 of September 1936." The movable members of the lock areconnected through a pair of parallel links 56 to the rearwardarnrof'lever which has the fixed fulcrum pivot. The upper ends oflinksvv 56 are disposed at the sides of lever 2U, the point ofv pivotalconnection beingV defined by the' pin 58 kand the lower ends of thelinks 56 carry a'pin 6|) passing through central and outer wedge members62, the central one vof which is disposed between the links 56 and thecuter ones of which are located outside the links. The wedge members 62are slidingly mounted within the lock box 36 and are retained thereinVby the cover plate 34.-V Between the wedge members within the lock boxare aspacing piece 64' and a series of steel lockingrolls 66 at oppositesides of the central wedgev member. The Alower "end of the series ofrolls Vrests against a relatively fixed bar l68 in the lock box and theupper'end is acted upon by a locking finger 'l0 secured toashafti2hav-`enable the lock to respond more quickly and positively when actuated.

y"Ifo actuate the lock actuating link 16 rearwardly, the rearwardreduced end is surrounded withl a relatively heavy spring 78 compressedbetween -a kcheck nut vthreaded on the reduced end of 4 the link and aperforated bracket 82 through the perforation of which the link passes.,The bracket 82, being secured to the-frame of the machine, causes thelink 76 to be drawn rearwardly until the locking finger engages theuppermost locking roll 66. To release the lock, the link 76 is movedforwardly against the force of the spring 18 and the locking rolls 65are relieved of pressure by a cam actuated lever 84 fulcrumed on a crossshaft 86 secured to the frame of the machine. The upper arm of the camlever has a roll engaging a cam on the sewing shaft I9 and on its lowerarm is a forked portion cooperating with a at surface 89 formed by ashoulder on the link 16.

The presser foot spring of the present machine is not connected directlyto the floating lever 22, as in Patent No. 2,271,611, but acts on thefloating lever through the links 56 connecting the equalizing lever 20with the wedge members of the lock. To connect the spring to the links56, the upper end of a C-shaped link 88 is pivotally connected betweenthe links 56 by a bolt 90 and the lower forked end of the C-shaped linkis perforated to receive a pin 92. The pin 92 also passes through theupper end of an H- shaped link 94 carrying a clamp bolt 96 at its lowerend; The clamp bolt 96 is adjustably secured Within an arcuate slot of alever 98 fulcrumed on a shaft |00 and connected to the presser footspring, indicated at |92, by a link |04 and a lever |06 mounted on a xedstud |08. The presser foot spring |02 is connected at its rearward endto the lever |66 and extends forwardly towards the front of the machineframe where it is held under tension by means described in Patent No.2,271,611.

'I'he C-shaped link 88 and the H-shaped link 94 being under compression,are held in alignment by the action of the connecting pin 92 slidablyarranged within a slot ||0 (Fig. 2) in a portion of said outer wedgemember 62 carries a headed pin I2 which is received within a diametricalpassage in the pin 92. The upper headed end of the pin ll2'serves as abacking plate fora spring-pressed plunger H4 acting betweenfthe outerand rcentral wedge members to takek up lost motion between the wedgemembers and render the lock self-energizing, as indicated more fully inthe patent to Gouldbourn et al.

The recesses in the lock box 36 are so formed 'for the presserfoot lever24. construction of the present feed carriage differs that when the pin92 is in its highest position, that is, when the Ipresser foot is in itsposition of nearest possible approach to the work, the pivot pins 32 and54 are brought accurately into alignment. To overcome slightmanufacturing irregularities, the floating pin 30 is provided withenlarged and reduced eccentric portions at its ends and the fulcrumsupporting link 20 has mounted in it a clamp bolt ||6 for securing thepin 30 against rotation in suitably adjusted .posit-ion. When rotatedmanually in the link 20, the eccentric floating pin 30 will cause thepresser foot to change its position of nearest approach to the presserfoot without requiring change in the positions of the cam lever or lock.For changing the amount of clamping force applied by the actuating camlever 38, 42 to the presser foot, the clamp stud 50 is shifted along theslot 44 and to avoid the necessity of changing the adjustment of'theeccentric pin 30 for each change in the position of the clamp stud inthe slot 44, the slot 44 is made of arcuate shape concentric with thecenter of the pivot pin 54 when the presser foot is in its position ofnearest possible approach to the work support, which position isdetermined by the engagement of the pin 92 against the upper end of therecesses in the lock box 36.

The shaft not only forms a fulcrum for the lever 98, but also carries athread measuring arm i9 similar to that of the machine disclosed inPatent No. 2,271,611 referred to, in accordance with the thickness ofthe work engaged by the presserl foot. The thread measuring mechanism isthus controlled through connections to the rear endA of the fulcrumsupporting lever 20.

lTo change the ratio by which the amount 'of thread measured varies withrespect to the thickness Vof the work operated upon so that thread maybe measured in an amount varying directly with the thickness of the workor varying at a lesser rate, as explained more fully in Patent No.2,271,611, the slot which receives the clamp bolt 36 in the lever 98 ismade eccentric to the pin 92 with the presser foot stopped by the pin 92in its position of nearest approach to the work support, in whichposition .the pivot pins 32v and 54 are in alignment. If the position ofthe clamp bolt 9S is changed while the parts are so located,

no change in position of the spring or of the i presser foot occurs solthat the interengaging 'portions of thread in the stitches will alwaysbe set in the work' in the same relation to the outer surfaces of thework V,while sewing the thinnest grades of work, the presser foot beingat, or apeproximately in its position of nearest approach to the worksupport under these circumstances.

yThe mechanism for imparting a feeding movement to the work support and,presser foot while clamping. the work is best shown in Figs. 7 to 10|inclusive. The general arrangement'of this mechanism is the same' as inthe machine of Patent No. 2,271,611 and includes a cam on the'mainsewing shaft, a cam lever '|-|8, a' link connecting the cam lever. with:the central joint vof a pair of toggle links |22 and |24. The togglelink |22 is pivotally mounted on a yoke |26 andthe other link |24 isconnected to a rearj wardly extending arm on a feed carriage, |28 of ashape having a lug for the pivotal mounting 26 The particular slightlyfrom that of Patent No. 2,271,611 in that '.the present carriage isformed as a single integral "piece whereas the carriage cf the saidkpatent vis ward pull at right angles to the'line of feed on the outsoleof a shoe adjacent Vthe point of sewing operations. In the embodiment ofthis feature, the work support |4 which is of U shape, is clamped toparallel portions of the feed carriage |28 and is formed along its Workengaging surface with a raised portion |32 for causing the pressureexerted on the work to be centralized at a mid-point such as |34 on theportion |32 as the work is clamped by the presser foot. During feedingmovements of the work support, the movements imparted to the work,unless otherwise prevented, are the same as the movements of themid-point |34.

i Referring to Fig. 8, the pressure centralizing portion |32 isindicated by avsomewhat D- shaped outline and is locatedon the worksupport at the seam side of the needle and awl 'paths so that in feedingthe work, it moves from the full-line position to the dot-dash lineposition further away from a point of intersection |35 between a line|36 passing through the center of the pivotal mounting shaft |30 atright angles to the line of feed indicated at |38, the Yline of feedpassing through the needle and awl path. T he needle and awl paths arecoincident in the -illustrated machine at vthe location of the awl 6.The awl Bis located at the trailing point of the intersection |35, thepressure centralizing point |34 on the work support being located stillfurther to the left away from the intersection. As a result of theswinging movement of .the work support about the lshaft |30, thepressure centralizing point |34 moves appreciably `out of the line offeed along an arcuate path |40 and rearwardly by a distance |42 infeeding the work. Since the work is clamped by the work support4 andpresser foot during feeding movement, a rearward pull isV exerted on thework itself. Back feeding movement of the worksupport and presser footoccurs when the clamping pressure of the foot is released from the Workso that `during .back feeding move- `ment, the pressure centralizing,portionA |32 of the work ,support moves .from thehot-dash position tothe full line position and forwardly by the distance |42.y In vthe fullline position of the pressure centralizing portion |32, the work isagain ,clamped soY that the rearward pull which is directed at right.angles to the line vof feed is continued from onesewing cycle toanother, the awl being projected into and holding the work during yeachback feeding movement. f l.

'Ihe rearward pull ofrthework supportk and ypresser foot on the work hasfurther desirable Yresults due to the inclination pof the pivotalmounting shaft |30 for the feed carriage, as indicated in Fig. 9. InSewingabout the `shank Aof a `Goodyear welt shoe |43, shown in Fig. 10,`andabout the entire marginal portion of other types of shoes, a frontface |44 of the Work sup- U,port disposed vat an angle to the workAsuplzrorting and pressure centralizing surfaces serves asa gagehagainstthe outer last supported surface of vthe shoe upper indicated at |46. Ina 6 Goodyear welt shoe, the shoe is presented by the operator in the'position shown with the upper against'.the gag'ing surface |44 and withthe projecting margin ofv welt |48 on the work supporting surface. Theangle of the .l pivotal mounting shaft` is such that theforward movementof the work support during backfeed of 'thejwork support causes thegaging surface .|44and the work supporting surface of the work'supportto be thrust with e'qual pressures against both the upper andwelt. The inclination of the shaft |30 for this purpose is selected atan anglewhich Will cause a line |50 bisecting the angle between the workgaging and supporting surfaces on the work support to intersect thevaxis of the shaft |30 at right anglesgthe forward thrust of the worksupport when so arranged being exerted along this line.

In order to enable the operator to hold the work against the back gagewith little or no muscular effort, according to present day practices, ashoe is presented to the machine with the edges of the welt and outsolesubstantially out of parallel with the line of feed |38. During feedingmovements of a shoe so presented to the present machine, there is atendency lto choke or retard the feeding movement of the shoe whenever aback gage for guiding the rearward edges of the work is employed. Withthe present construction and mode of operation, the rearward pullexerted by the work support and presser foot'on the work enables theoperator to present the work with the edge more nearly parallel to theline of feed than possible heretofore and at the same time, to hold thework against the back gage without substantial muscular effort.

As a means for accentuating the effects of rearward pull on the work,the feeding and back feeding movements are so proportioned that the timeof feed is relatively long, as compared with 4the time of back feed.When ythe machine is operating at high speeds, the inertia of a shoe iseasily overcome `during Vthe relatively long feeding movement and afterthe clamping pressure on the work is released, the relatively short backfeeding movement enables a new clamping grip to be obtained on the workbefore any substantial forward movement of the work is possible. 1

Any link mechanism is subject to wear and looseness vin its pivotalrconnections after long continued use and to offset the effects of Wearin the work feeding mechanism of the present machine, lthe rearwardlyextending arm of the feed carriage |28 is acted upon by a plunger |52slidable in a'passage 'in the machine frame and backed by a compressionspring |54. The spring |54 is retained in' the passage of the frame by a'cap screw |56. VBy reason of the rel- -atively long feeding movementimparted'to'the feed carriage by the feeding mechanism, it is 'possiblefor a lightis'pri'ng acting on the plunger |52 to take up all'of theback lash in the feed'- ing mechanisms even when the machine isoperating at high speeds.'

The back gage is similar to that of the machine disclosed in Patent No.2,271,611 yand is located with' the end of its trailing work engagingedgein close proximity to the portion |32 of the work support which actsto concentrate the pres:- sure on the work, as indicated in Fig. 12.`AWith the end of the back gage so located, theoperator fis-enabled toguide the *work moreeffectively and .ber for the pull-off actuating arm|88 extending astuce to change its position easily while presenting thework to the machine. 1

Torprevent the outer lower corner of the welt fromA becoming wedged orcut between the work support and the back gage as the work isvcornpressed by the presser foot, the present back gage is provided witha lip |58 having a horizontal work engaging surfacev in front of thevertical work engaging portion of thevback gage, as shown in Figs'll and12.v The angularly disposed surfaces formed by the lip |58 and thevertical edge engaging surface of the back gage provide a trough whichthe outer lower corner of the welt travels To enable the lip to approachas close as possible to the work engaging surface of the work support,the work support is cut away at |60 to form a shoulder |62. During backfeed movement of the work support, the shoulder |62 moves towards thelip on the back gage and raises the edge of the welt onto `the surfaceof the work support.

Like the machine of PatentNo. 2,271,611 the illustrated machine has apull-off actuating mechanism including a curved slotted arm |64 (seeFigs, 13 and 14) rotatably mounted on a shaft |66 in alignment with thethread measuring shaftV |00 and acting between a pair of guides on themeasuring arm 9 to draw off a supply of needle thread sufficient foreach stitch. Also mounted on the shaft |66 are a pair of thread lockactuating arms |68y and |10. These arms are formed with cam surfaces attheir extremities which cooperate with shoes |12 and |14 for clampingthe thread at either side of the pulloff against thread guide rolls |16and |18. The pull-off and thread lock arms of the machine in the patentlast referred to are secured to the shaft and to concentric sleeves, oneinside the other on the shaft |66. During rotation of the shaft toactuate the pull-off arm corresponding to the arm |64, there is atendency for the shaft to impart movements to the cam arm supportingsleeves so as to interfere with proper operation of the thread locks orto open one of the locks temporarily when it should be closed.

In order to prevent interference between the pull-off arm and insureproper operation of the locks in the illustrated machine, the pull-offarm |64 and lock actuating arms |68 and |10 are constructed and arrangedto oscillate on the cross shaft |66 in such a way that no pressureradially of the shaft will be transferred from one to another.V VInsteadof mounting the pull-,off arm directly onV the shaft |66 and the lockactuating arms onv sleeves supported one inside of the other, all of,the arms are rotatable directly on the shaft |66and are connected withtheir actuating mechanisms by means of struts |80, |82 and |84. Thestrut |60 connects the pull-olf arm with an integrally formed yoke |86'acting as a bearing memfrorn the yoke. Between the bearing Vportions ofthe yoke is va second bearing member'lS having an arm |92 for operatingthe lockactuating arm |68.' The strut |84 connects thelockiactuating arm|10 with a bearing member |84 havingY an operatingarm |96.v The lockactuating .arm |68 thus has triplicate bearings' directly on the 'shaft|66 and the pull-off and other lock'jactuating Aarms |10 and |64 havedouble'vbearings spaced along the shaft so that actuationl of'anyof thearms'will not affect anyv of theothersd' .,Ifhecros's shaft |66 itselfis fixed inja bracketjill secured tothe frame of the machine 'and'having twoshaft supporting bosses,A one at the right end of the shaftv|66 and one at an intermediate position be# tween the bearing membersconnected by the struts.

The mechanism for actuating the looper I0 of the present invention isconstructed to move in a curving path generally in the line of feed, asin the machine of the Patent No. 2,271,611 and to avoid application ofexcessively heavy forces in any of its individual parts, amplebearing'su'rfaces being provided for extreme durability'in use. Thelooper proper is in the usual Vform with an upstanding perforated threadreceiving stem and in its present form is clamped to a two-part carrier200 slidable lengthwise along an arrni202 provided with rectangularguiding surfaces inside the carrier, the lower edges of the carrierhaving anges engaging grooves in the arm. The parts of the carrier aresecured together at the forward end by a bolt 204 which secures the stemof the looper to the carrier andat its rearward end by-a threaded studand nuts 206 passing through the carrier parts and a block 208 of ashape corresponding to that of the arm 202, The arm 202 swings on apivot pin 210 having a conical wear compensating portion fitting acorresponding opening in the carrier and clamped within a supportingbracket 2I2 secured to the machine frame. A Swinging of the arm on itspivot pin causes the perforatedvend of the'- looper to move to the rightand left of the needle.

To impart a forward and rearward component of movement to the looperduring the swinging movement of the arm 202, block 208 has clampedtherein a headed pin2i4 on which is rotatable a conical roll 2I6engaging an S-shaped cam slot 21T formed in the bracket 2|2. The centralportion of the bracket is recessed at 2l'8 to provide space for a pin220 having a conical wear vcompensating head fitting a correspondinglyshaped opening in the arm 202. The pin 220 is secured within one end ofan actuating link-222 pivotally connected to a -cam lever 224 fulcrumedat 226 on a fixed vertical shaft. The cam lever 224 is provided with aroll 228 engaging a cam 23B] on the sewing shaft I 9.'

Certain of the mechanisms which have been illustrated and describedarenot claimed herein but formv the subject-matter of divisionalapplications, the looper actuating mechanism being claimed inapplication Serial No. 488,966, led Mayv 29, 1943, the pull-olf andthread lock actuv` ating mechanism being 'claimed in application serialNo.' 496,464, med Juiy 28, i943, andthe work feeding and edge gagemechanism being claimed in application Serial No.7`498,484, filed s.

August 13,1943. l v, N I The nature and scopeof 'the invention havingbeen indicated and a particular-embodiment of the invention having beendescribed, what is claimed is:

l. An outsole shoe lstitching machne'having,

in combination, stitch forming devices,'a workv support, a presser foot,mechanism for actuating the presser foot comprisinga presser foot leverpivotally mounted midway its length at one end of which lever thepresser foot s mounted, an actuating cam, a iioating lever, aconnectionfrom the cam to a point on the floating lever, a link directlyconnecting another point on the oating lever to the end oi the presserfoot lever remote from the presser footV ata point to 'form equal armson the presserfoot lever, locking devices for locking the fulcrum of thefloating `lever from movement, means for actuating the'locking devicesto lock and release the fulcrurnduring each i support while the fingleverlfrom movement; means Vfor A' the locking Adevices-tolock-and*rele'as Y 'crum supporting' leverfduring eachs'ti'tch-fferming cycle,and avlspring'` acti'ng'on the floating :lever between `the pointsof camand e v fin combination, stitch formingV er font 1lever comprising afloating leven* stitch forming cycle, andk a spring acting on thefloating lever between the points of connection with the cam and thepresser foot to press the foot towards the work support while theiulcrum` of the floating lever is released.

2. An outsole shoe stitching machine having, in combination, stitchforming devices, a yWork support, a lpresser' foot, mechanism foractuating the presser foot comprising a presser foot lever pivotallymounted midway its yends and having a substantially horizontalrearwardly extending arm on the forward end of which leve'r the'presserfoot is mounted, an actuating cam, a floating lever located above therearwardly extending arm of the presser foot lever, a' connection fromthe cam to a point'on the floating lever, a link directly connectingtherea'r end of the presser foot lever to another' point on the floatinglever, locking devices for locking the fulcrum of the oating lever` frommovement, means for actuating the locking devices to lock and releasethe fulcrum during each stitch forming cycle',y and a-spring actingvonthe connectionsfbetween-th'e cam` and the presser footfto press the foottowards the work support'whi'le the fulcrum is released.

v3. An outsole shoe stitching machine having; incombination, stitchvforming devicesy'a worlk support', a presser foot, presser footyactuating `mei'zha'nism comprising a presser foot`leverA on which thenpresser foot is mounted, an actuating cam, connections between'the camand the presser foot lever comprising a floating-lever, a'supportinglever on 'which the `iloating lever is fulcrumed,lali-'connection from the cam to a'point on the fio-ating lever, aconnection :from the presser foot lever to another point ontheiioatinglever', locking devices for locking the fulcrumsupporting`VVVlever from movement, means for actuating Athe loc-king devicesto lockandrele'ase the fu-lcrum supporting lever during each stitch formingcycle, and a spring'acting on the oating lever between the points of camand presser foot connection to press the foot towards 'the work fulcrumof the ioating lever is released. 7 1 4. An outsole shoe stitchingmachineV having, in` combination, stitch forming devices; a`V Worksupporna presser foot, presser footactuating mechanism comprising apresser foot levervon which the presser foot ismounte'd, an actuatingcam, connections between the c'am'and the presser feat lever comprisinga floatingflever, a fulcru'm :supporting lever en whichl the floatinglever 'isffulcrurne'dfintermediate its ends, aVc'clruiecLtion'frornftlie cam to a point on the floating vlever at one'side'of'its fulcrumay 'connection from the presser foot lever -to yapoint vvonrthe floating leverV atth'e opposite side offitsy "fulcrum,

locking"` devices forV locking the fulcriim support- ,page e thev fullpresser foot'connection to press the foot towardsthe work sup?- portwhile the fulcrum of the noatinglever Ais jreleas'ed.'

jAnfo'utsolc shoe stitching machine ng, devices,v 'a werk "snpport,avpre'ssercfoot, "presser foot actumechanism comprising 'a l `presserfoot lever io whiclilthe presser foot is Vmountedy "an actuating 'fcamjconnections between the cam and ithepres's;

crum supporting lever pivoted at one end of the same length as thefloating lever, at the central point of which the floating lever isfulcrurned midway its length, a connection from the cam to one end ofthe floating lever, a connection from the presser foot lever to theother end of the floating lever, locking devices for locking the fulcrumsupporting lever from movement, a connection from the locking devices tothe end of the fulcrum supporting leverremote from its pivot, means foractuating the locking devices to lock and release the fulcrum duringeach stitch forming cycle, and a spring acting on the connectionsbetween the cam and the presser foot to press the foot towards the worksupport while the fulcrum is released.

i 6. An Youtsole shoe stitching machine having, in combination, stitchforming devices, a work support, a presser foot, presser foot actuatingmechanism comprising a presser foot lever on which the presser foot ismounted, an actuating cam, connections between the cam and the presserfoot lever comprising a floating lever, a fulcrum support on which thefloating lever is fulcrumed intermediate its ends a connnection from thecam to a point on the floating lever at one side of its fulcrum, aconnection from the presser footlever to a point on the floating leverat the opposite side of its fulcrum, locking devices for locking thefulcrum support from movement, means for actuating the locking devicesto lock and release the fulcrum support during each stitch formingcycle, a spring acting on the connections between the cam and thepresser foot to press the foot towards the work support while thefulcrum support is released, and thread measuring mechanism comprising athread measuring arm and a connection from the thread measuring arm tothe fulcrum support for moving the thread measuring arm upon movement ofthe fulcrum support while released.

7. An outsole shoe stitching machine having, in combination, stitchforming devices, a work support, a presser foot, presser foot actuatingmechanism comprising a presser foot lever on which the presser foot ismounted, an actuating cam, connections between the cam andthe presserfoot lever comprising a floating lever, a fulcrum support on which thefloating lever is fulcrumed intermediate its ends, a connection from thecam toa point on the floating lever at one side of its fulcrum, avconnection from the presser foot lever to a point on the floating leverat the opposite side of itsV fulcrum, locking devices for locking thefulcrum support from movement, means for actuating the locking devicesto lock and release the fulcrum support during each stitch formingcycle, a spring acting on the connections between the cam and thepresser foot to press the foot towards the work support while thefulcrum support is released, a thread pull-oi mechanism, and aconnVfulcrum support acting to Vary lthe amount of thread pulled from thesupply with variations in the position of the fulcrum support of thefloatinglever.

8. An outsole shoe stitching machine having, in combination, stitchforming devices, a work support, a presser foot, presser foot actuatingmechanism-comprisingv a presser footl lever on rwhich the presser footis mounted, an actuating cam, connections between thecam and the presserfoot lever comprising a floating lever, a fulcrum supporting lever onwhich the floating lever'V nasa] fulcrum, locking devices for lockingction from the pull-oir mechanism tothethefulcrum 'supporting lever frommovement, means for actuating the locking devices to lock and releasethe fulcrum supporting lever during each stitch forming cycle, a springacting on the connections between the cam and the presser foot to pressthe foot towards the work support while the fulcrum supporting lever isreleased, a thread pull-oil mechanism, and a connection from thepull-oir mechanism to a point on the fulcrum supporting lever on theopposite side of its fulcrum from the pivot of the fulcrum supportinglever to vary the, amount of thread pulled from the supply withvariations in the position of the fulcrum of the iloating lever.

9. An outsole shoe stitching machine having, in combination, stitchforming devices, a work support, a presser foot, presser foot actuatingmechanism comprising a presser foot lever on which the presser foot ismounted, an actuating cam, connections between the cam and the presserfoot lever comprising a floating lever, a fulcrum supporting levermounted on a xed pivot, on which lever the floating lever is fulcrumed,locking devices for locking the fulcrum supporting lever from movement,means for actuating the locking devices-to lock and release the fulcrumsupporting lever during each stitch forming cycle, a spring acting onthe connections between the cam and they presser foot to press the foottowards the work support while the fulcrum supportV is released, aconnection from the presser foot lever to a point on the floating lever,and a connection from the cam to another pivot point on thefloatinglever, which point is substantially concentric with the fixedpivot of the fulcrum supporting lever while the presser foot is in aposition of nearest possible approach to the Work support. Y

10. An outsole shoe stitching machine having, in combination, stitchforming devices, a work support, a presser foot, presser foot actuatingmechanism comprising a presser foot lever on which the `presser foot ismounted, an actuating cam, connections between the cam and the presserfoot lever comprising a floating lever, a fulcrum supporting levermounted on a xed pivot on which lever the floating lever is fulcrumed,locking devices for locking the fulcrum supporting lever from movement,a connection from the locking devices to the end of the fulcrumsupporting lever remote from its pivot, means for actuating the lockingdevices toV lock and release the fulcrum during each stitch formingcycle, a spring acting on the connections between the cam and thepresser foot to press the foot toward the work support while the fulcrumis released, and means for adjusting the fulcrum of the floating leveron the fulcrum supporting lever.

l1. An outsole shoe stitching machine having, in combination, stitchforming devices, a work support, a presser foot, presser foot actuatingmechanism comprising a presser foot lever on which the presser foot ismounted, an actuating cam, connections between the cam and thepresser'foot lever comprising a floating lever, a fulcrum supportinglever mounted on a fixed pivot, on which lever the floating lever isfulcrurned` locking devicesv for locking the fulcrum supporting leverfrom movement, means for actuating theY locking devices to lock andrelease the fulcrum supporting lever during .each stitch forming cycle,a spring acting on the connections between the cam and the presser fcotto press the foot towards the work support while the fulcrum supportinglever is released, a connection from the presser foot lever to a pointon the floating lever, a connection from the cam to another point on theiioating lever, which pivot point is substantially concentric with thefixed pivot of the fulcrum supporting lever While the presser foot is ina position of nearest possible approach to the work support, connectionsfrom the locking devices to the end of the fulcrum supporting leverremote from its pivot, and means for limiting the movement of saidlocking connections in a direction to prevent movement of the presserfoot towards the work support beyond the position where the connectingpoint of the floating lever to the cam is concentric with the fixedpivot of the fulcrum supporting lever.

12. An outsole shoe stitching machine having, in combination, stitchforming devices, a work support, a presser foot, presser foot actuatingmechanism comprising a presser foot lever on which the presser foot ismounted, an actuating cam, connections between the cam and the presserfoot lever comprising a floating lever, a fulcrum supporting levermounted on a xed pivot on which lever the floating lever is fulcrumed,locking devices for locking the fulcrum supporting lever frommovement, aconnection from the locking devices to the end of the fulcrum supportinglever remote from its pivot, means for actuating the locking devices tolock and release the fulcrum supporting lever during each stitch formingcycle, a spring acting on the connections between the cam and thepresser foot to press the foot toward the work support while the fulcrumis released, a cam actuated lever having an arm formed with an arcuateslot, a link pivotally connected at one end to thel iloating lever andadjustably connected to the slotted arm of the cam actuated lever, andmeans for stopping the movement of the fulcrum supporting lever whilereleased in a position in which the point of pivotal connection of saidlink with the oating lever is concentric with the arcuate slot in thecam actuated lever.

13. An outsole shoe stitching machine having,

in combination, stitch forming devices, a work support, a presser foot,presser foot actuating mechanism comprising a presser foot lever onwhich the presser foot is mounted, an actuating cam, connections betweenthe cam and the presser foot lever comprising a floating lever, afulcrum support on which the floating lever is fulcrumed, lockingdevices for locking the fulcrum support from movement, means foractuating the locking devices to lock and release the fulcrum supportduring each stitch forming cycle, and a spring acting on the connectionsbetween the cam and the presser foot to press the foot towards the worksupport while the fulcrum support is released, said locking devicescomprising a wedge member connected to the fulcrum support, a series ofrolls for locking the wedge member, and a lock box within which thewedge member and rolls are contained with the series arranged insubstantially vertical position with the weight of one roll actingdirectly on the roll beneath.

14. An outsole shoe stitching machine havingI in combination, stitchforming devices, a work support, a presser foot, presser foot actuatingmechanism comprising a presser foot lever on which the presser foot ismounted, an actuating cam, connections between the cam and the presserfoot lever comprising a floating lever, a fulcrum supporting lever onwhich the floating lever is fulcrumed, locking devices for locking thefulcrum supporting lever from movement, means for actuating the lockingdevices to lock and release the fulcrum supporting lever during eachstitch forming cycle, and a spring acting on the connections between thecam and the presser foot to press the foot towards the work supportwhile the fulcrum is released, the oating lever and the fulcrumsupporting lever having arms disposed side by side in the direction ofthe seam line with the arm of the floating lever connected to thepresser foot lever and the arm of the fulcrum supporting lever connectedto the locking devices.

FRED ASHWORTH. CARL F. WHITAKER.

